DHARAMSALA, JUN 14 (PTI): Captain Shubman Gill produced a commanding unbeaten 84 to lead India to a seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the rain-hit opening One-Day International on Saturday. The match, reduced to 25 overs per side due to persistent showers, also saw impressive debuts from pacer Gurnoor Brar and spinner Harsh Dubey, who claimed three wickets each.
Opting to field first, India restricted Afghanistan to 194 in 24.5 overs. The highlight of the visitors’ innings was a blistering century from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who smashed 102 off just 51 balls with eight fours and as many sixes. Gurbaz attacked from the outset, dispatching Arshdeep Singh for boundaries and punishing debutant Dubey’s short deliveries with towering sixes.
India’s bowlers, however, struck regularly. Brar, consistently clocking above 145 kmph, dismissed opener Ibrahim Zadran in his first over and later added two more scalps to finish with figures of 3/27. Arshdeep trapped Sediqullah Atal lbw and removed Rahmat Shah, while Dubey recovered from an expensive start to claim three wickets in his second spell, including captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai. Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed with steady bowling, taking two wickets for 31 runs.
Gurbaz’s dismissal in the 16th over slowed Afghanistan’s momentum, and despite useful contributions from Shahidi (27) and Omarzai (26), the visitors failed to capitalize on the platform provided by their opener.
In reply, Gill anchored the chase with elegance and authority. His 66-ball knock featured fluent strokes against Afghanistan’s spinners, including a towering six over mid-wicket off Rashid Khan. Gill’s innings ensured India reached the target in 22.5 overs.
Opening partner Rohit Sharma managed 16 before being run out in the sixth over, while Ishan Kishan, returning to the ODI side, impressed with 34 off 22 balls before falling to a Rashid Khan googly. Gill found support from KL Rahul, who struck a brisk 39 not out off 19 balls, highlighted by a classy extra-cover six against Zia Ur Rahman.
India’s batting display reflected depth and adaptability, with Gill’s form across formats continuing to inspire confidence ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup preparations.
The rain interruptions delayed the start by nearly 20 minutes, but Dharamsala’s newly installed subair drainage system ensured minimal time was lost once conditions improved. The shortened format demanded urgency from both sides, and while Gurbaz rose to the occasion for Afghanistan, India’s balanced bowling and Gill’s assured batting proved decisive.
The victory gave India a strong start to the series and underlined their readiness for long-term World Cup preparations. For Afghanistan, Gurbaz’s innings was a bright spot, but the lack of support from the rest of the batting lineup highlighted areas for improvement.
Brief scores: Afghanistan 194 in 24.5 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 102; Arshdeep Singh 2/27, Gurnoor Brar 3/27, Harsh Dubey 3/47, Nitish Kumar Reddy 2/31) lost to India 195/3 in 22.5 overs (Shubman Gill 84 not out, Ishan Kishan 34, KL Rahul 39 not out; Rashid Khan 1/37) by 7 wickets.